The swap

What I buy instead

Same job, less money. Each entry names what it replaces, what makes the two equivalent, and what you give up. Most of these have no brand at all, which is rather the point.

Being in my house gets a thing considered. It still has to clear one of these to be listed, and the card says which one it cleared.

Trials: Published evidence on this thing itself.
Ingredients: A list short enough to read aloud and defend.
Value: The same job for less money.

Skin and body

Instead of a barrier balm or an overnight maskPlain petrolatum~$5 a tub against $30 and up

Both work by sealing, and petrolatum is the seal the others are measured against.

TrialsIngredientsValue Instead of an expensive ceramide moisturiserA drugstore ceramide cream~$16 for 16 oz against ~$80 for 1.7 oz

The same three lipids doing the same job, at about a thirtieth of the price per ounce.

IngredientsValue Instead of branded natural deodorant, restocked every few weeksA potassium alum stone~$9 for roughly a year against ~$15 a stick

One mineral, no perfume, and the same effect on the bacteria that cause the smell.

IngredientsValue Instead of body wash, hand soap and floor cleaner as three bottlesCastile soap concentrate~$20 for 32 oz of concentrate

It is one soap, and the three jobs were never chemically different.

IngredientsValue

Pantry

Instead of a branded creatine blend or a pre-workoutCreatine monohydrate, unflavoured, in bulk~$30 a kilogram, which is 200 servings, against $40 to $60 a tub

Monohydrate is the form the research used. The blends are monohydrate with additions.

TrialsValue Instead of a liposomal magnesium bottleMagnesium glycinate powder, in bulk~$20 for 250g, about 18 cents a day, against $45 to $68 a bottle

The same chelate. Liposomal packaging is a delivery claim wrapped around it.

Value Instead of whey isolateWhey protein concentrate~$25 for 2 lb against ~$45

The same protein. Isolate is the same whey, filtered further.

Value

Kitchen

Instead of a coated nonstick pan, replaced every few yearsCast iron or carbon steel~$30 once against ~$50 every three years

Both release food. One of them keeps doing it for fifty years.

Value Instead of tinnedDried beans and lentils~15 cents a serving against 60 to 90

The same pulse. The tin is that pulse already cooked, in water, shipped heavy.

Value Instead of seasoning blendsPlain kosher salt and whole pepper~$5 for three pounds against ~$8 for two ounces

Read a blend: salt is the first ingredient, and usually most of what is in the jar.

IngredientsValue

Cleaning

Instead of branded descalerCitric acid~$12 for two pounds against ~$8 a bottle

Most descalers are a dilute acid, usually this one, with colour and scent added.

IngredientsValue Instead of branded glass cleanerDistilled white vinegar~$5 a gallon against ~$4 a spray bottle

Dilute acetic acid, which is what most glass sprays are, plus a surfactant and a dye.

IngredientsValue Instead of all-purpose spray, bought again every monthMicrofibre cloths and water~$16 for a pack that lasts years

Most surface cleaning is mechanical. The spray was doing less than the wiping was.

Value

Movement and rest

Instead of sleep gadgetryFoam earplugs and an eye mask~$15 against $100 to $400

Both aim at the same two inputs. One of them removes those inputs directly.

TrialsValue Instead of this season's, at full priceLast season's running shoeusually 40 to 50 percent off the same shoe

Year to year a model changes very little, and what changes has not been shown to matter.

Value Instead of a percussive massage gunA lacrosse ball and a set of bands~$20 against $150 to $400

Both press on tissue, and neither does much that lasts past the session.

Value